A New Platform [Intro Post February]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Three days after the Voidtreckers return to the void after their adventures on the biosphere world, they are awoken by a familiar announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen of the month of Jelly. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while will also be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. The fog seems thicker than usual and as they step out onto the platform they will find it is cold, very cold. Icy fog sticks to their clothing, makes it hard to see very far; the atmosphere is dark and gloomy.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alexis Rhodes, Elfnein, Itsuki Myoudouin, Ken Ichijouji, MT, Neku Sakuraba, Nike Lemercier, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Rainbow Dash, Rei Saotome, Taichi Yagami, Tsubomi Hanasaki, Yuri Tsukikage and Zechs Merquise all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam, billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large with sixteen figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, tracks disappear into the mist. Then there is a roaring sound and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out step a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

The Train

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including several crates of avocados, the ingredient of the month of Jelly, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers braving the freezing fog, and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[soldier_blade]

"Several hundred years," She concurred. "Probably a lot of time to work and figure which substances were better for what ailment." And given were they were, that knowledge was needed again.

She walked with him to the kitchen carriage, the tea sounding especially good now that she was aware of her damp clothing. Perhaps she should've changed first, but the heat from a stove would work just as well.

"Yes," She answered, before smirking. "Myself." Sonya recalled Cassie's words about 'self care'. "I consider myself in good shape for my age, but I'm still human, as my body likes to remind me."

And she likes to ignore.

[so_dark_a_road]

"The elders of both worlds were wise about that kind of thing, and that probably came from all that time experimenting." And yes, on the train, that kind of knowledge would be useful. Curufin thought it paid to have more than one medical system represented amongst the doctors and healers.

In the kitchen, the temperature of the air was higher than in the passages, probably because so many people had stopped in to make themselves cups of coffee or tea or chocolate, or heated up meals for themselves in the ovens.

Curufin put some water on to boil and got the tea out of the cupboard and two mugs. Soon, the water was boiling away merrily and he made two cups of tea and brought them to the counter where there were bar stools they could sit on.

"A healing bath for you? That sounds wonderful. You obviously are in good shape for your age, but it can't hurt to nurture the body."

[soldier_blade]

"Nurturing my body's the only reason I'm still standing up." She smirked, setting the bag on the counter. "Otherwise I'm certain half my joints would be arthritic by now."

Even before her arrival on Void, with Elves being on the medic team, it was no longer a case of wellness, but a matter of 'up keep'. Decades in combat didn't exactly leave her unscathed; the amount of scar tissue alone meant some nights staying awake simply because everything ached.

Not that she'd ever let it stop her of course, but there were times her body wished she'd take it easy.

[so_dark_a_road]

"You look too young for arthritis," he said, with a smile. "But of course I'm of the Elven race, and we don't get such conditions, so I wouldn't know what is typical for mortals."

[soldier_blade]

"In theory, that's true." Medically speaking, and under normal circumstances, she'd have another decade or so before needing to worry. "But trauma to bone joints, especially over time, can lead to possible arthritis if not managed."

Yet another reason why she did morning yoga, and not just as a way to relax and focus herself.

She accepted a tea mug, squeezing in only a little honey, but otherwise taking it dark.

[so_dark_a_road]

"I suppose the bone joint trauma comes from the warrior's way of life?" he speculated. Sonya Blade was certainly a warrior!

He took a sip of his own tea, not bothering to add honey or sugar. He made a face of approval. "Good stuff!" he said. Caffeine jag without the nervousness that coffee generated.

[soldier_blade]

"You don't need to be a combat vet to go through bone trauma." She clarified. "Convoy drivers and medics can be caught in the cross fire." Which would easily lead to injuries.

The tea was good, either that or it was just some placebo effect. "I'm general of an army, way more people involved than just warriors."

And possibly why she felt a little defensive. She knew Curufin meant well, she could see it in his expression, but 'warrior' was an extremely broad way of painting someone, whereas soldier (even if the marines said otherwise) always meant being part of an organized military.

Want to start wrapping this thread?

[so_dark_a_road]

"I suppose not," he agreed. "Anybody who plays a support role in a battle can get injured."

He sipped again. The warmth and the flavor were both welcome. "I remember you said you were a general. So then, you have to organize many people who play many different roles into units, and make sure that each unit is where it is supposed to be at any given moment. Is that a fair description of a general's job?"

The Elvish armies that Curufin remembered were less organized than the ones Sonya had led. The word warrior was the usual term for anyone who played a combat role. Others, such as the healers, were not considered to be part of the army, even if they traveled with it.